weight gain but mainly on stomach

[CarolMSM]

having next blood test next Tuesday ..taking 50 mcg and 75 mcg alternate nights. Still get tired quickly but put weight on my stomach. Can I get rid of this..cutting back on food just makes me more tired.

[greygoose]

It's probably water retention, which is a symptom of low thyroid. And cutting back on your food will not only not help but could make things worse. The solution is to optimise your thyroid hormone levels. And on such a stupid low dose, it's highly unlikely that you're going to achieve that any time soon.

When did you last have a blood test? What were the results?

[CarolMSM in reply to greygoose]

about seven weeks ago…still too high according to the dr and I was getting palpitations ..next blood test in six days.

[greygoose in reply to CarolMSM]

OK. And if a doctor says it's high, it must be high! Palpitations can often be hypo symptoms.

Don't forget to get a print-out of your results, and post them on here, then people will be better able to help you.

[CarolMSM in reply to greygoose]

Thankyou I will

[greygoose in reply to CarolMSM]

You're welcome.

[SlowDragon Administrator]

For full Thyroid evaluation you need TSH, FT4 and FT3 tested

Also both TPO and TG thyroid antibodies tested at least once to see if your hypothyroidism is autoimmune

Very important to test vitamin D, folate, ferritin and B12 at least once year minimum

Looking at previous posts……After significant dose reduction you likely have low vitamin levels unless supplementing

When were vitamin D, folate, ferritin and B12 last tested

What vitamin supplements are you taking

[CarolMSM]

I do take a full spectrum of vitamins but had run out of vit b but reordered. Not had a recent blood test for them though. I’ve brought my blood test forward to tomorrow now..just do feel really under par. It’s proving so hard to get my dosage right

[Noelnoel in reply to CarolMSM]

Don’t forget, if any of your supplements contain biotin it’s wise to stop taking them a few days before your test. Apparently, biotin can make results less reliable

[radd]

CarolMSM

As others have said an optimised thyroid hormone med dose is vital.

Just wanted to add a great book for understanding the effects of elevated cortisol (induced by hypothyroidism) is Fat Around The Middle by Marilyn Grenville.

The book is old now so likely available on eBay for a couple of pounds.

[CarolMSM in reply to radd]

Oh Thankyou..I’ll look for it.

[CarolMSM in reply to radd]

Just ordered it of amazon..used but in good condition .

[Noelnoel in reply to radd]

Thanks for recommendation. Have ordered it. Hopefully it’ll help me finally get rid of the pregnant look! Not that there’s anything wrong with looking pregnant when you are in fact actually pregnant

[radd in reply to Noelnoel]

Are you pregnant?

[Noelnoel in reply to radd]

No!!! I’m 65 and was just saying I have a pot belly. It’s a lovely look if one is actually pregnant, not so much if it’s just a fat belly

[radd in reply to Noelnoel]

😁

[Lottyplum in reply to Noelnoel]

I’m 75 and my ‘pot belly’ disappeared after T3 was added by my private Endo!!

[JoJoloveschocolate in reply to Lottyplum]

Lottyplum out of interest - did it take some time or did that happen quite quickly after the addition of t3?

[Lottyplum in reply to JoJoloveschocolate]

It happened quite quickly after taking T3 - just a few weeks. No change to diet or anything. I was Def a poor converter+as GP hasn't a clue about T3 (says it's irrelevant) I knew I had to purse a private Endo! I walk at least an hour every day+plan to get some pilates under my belt, too!

[JoJoloveschocolate in reply to Lottyplum]

Thanks Lottyplum . I started t3 about ten weeks ago and my weight dropped a little when i increased to 10mcg a day, but then started creeping up again. The private go i’m seeing has just increased my levo a bit more and sqys the t3 might need increasing depending on how things go. My t4 is 15.5 (dropped from 19 when i started t3, and my t3 has gone up from 3.9 to 5.5.

[Lottyplum in reply to JoJoloveschocolate]

I have to say my T4 hasn't moved much, my T3 has been between 5+5.9 on 15mcg. I think my daily exercise (how much) uses up more or less T3. My main hashi issue has always been severe constipation - mess with my T4+that's the first thing that goes haywire. So I keep well away from GP surgery. I will be sending my next blood test to Endo in January as been trialling small reduction in T4 - just 25mcg per week to say what difference, if any, it makes to TSH/T4/T3 bloods. Anything much more (I've tried)+the constipation kicks in! We are such complicated beings but medics haven't cottoned on to that!!

[Pandora777]

I think a lot of older women (which I am) seem to gain weight on their tummy. I remember attending a business function years ago and some woman came over to me and said I quote “When is it due?” She then patted my stomach! I was 56 at the time so I didn’t know whether to be flattered or insulted. I am now 65 and still have a bit of a tummy even though I am a size 10.

[Astrido in reply to Pandora777]

Yes agreed - same problem here. Hoping HRT might help (day 6 for me)

[Pandora777 in reply to Astrido]

I hope it helps because I am unable to take it because of a family history of breast cancer.

[sparkly in reply to Astrido]

They call it meno belly! Can't say if I suffered it on starting perimenopause as my belly was big already 😂

[Paquita]

Levothyroxine can make you retain fluids, which will pool in the belly area. You could ask for medication to get rid of the fluids. Or, if Levothyroxine does not do enough for you, you could consider NDT. I got palpitations from a too high Levothyroxine dose, while almost all hypo symptoms remained... they only went after switching to NDT.